Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Oh No! Rally O!

We attended our first Rally O dog training class. Upon entering the classroom, we saw a line of traffic cones. It was obvious  this would NOT be a traditional obedience class.

The instructor said that we had 9.5 seconds to weave in and out of the cones, turn around and repeat the weave. 9.5 seconds sounds like a lot of time, unless you are dragging an 80 pound dog, who is more interested in the other dogs than in following you.


After the weaving exercise, we practiced turns. 270 degree turns, pivot turns, left around (passing the lead behind your back and keeping the dog on your left). The goal is that you and the dog move fluidly as one. As you walk, commands are called out and you and your dog need to follow them.

All four of us were hot and tired by the time class ended. We now have many new skills that we need to practice.

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